Very quietly, Matt Campbell is doing some high-quality work in Ames.
Thanks in large part to quarterback Kyle Kempt and an opportunistic, oft-times stifling defense, Iowa State went to Texas Tech Saturday afternoon and stole a 31-13 Homecoming Game win off the Red Raiders. The Cyclones jumped out to a 24-6 halftime lead, and weren’t really challenged in the last two quarters in winning for just the second time ever in Lubbock.
After an early interception practically handed Tech its first touchdown, Kempt righted the passing ship by throwing three touchdown passes -- all in the first half -- in the win. Defensively, the Cyclones held a Red Raiders offense that came in seventh nationally in yards per game at 543.7 to 336 yards. The 13 points were a season-low for Tech, surpassing the 27 scored in the Week 3 win over Houston.
With the win, ISU improved to 5-2 on the season. It’s their best start to a campaign since Dan McCarney‘s Cyclones started 2002 6-1 en route to a 7-7 season.
Taking over a program that won just eight games combined the previous three seasons, the Cyclones went 3-9 in Campbell’s first season last year. In addition to beating a Tech team that was 4-2 coming in, ISU knocked off then-No. 3 Oklahoma in Norman a couple of weeks ago for the football program’s biggest win in years.
With one more win, Campbell will have the Cyclones bowl-eligible for the first time since 2012.